Broadcasting Business Information // LIBRARY INSTRUCTION FOR 500 Jason Sokoloff & Kathy Clarke James Madison University VLACRL Annual Conference // October

Broadcasting Business Information //LIBRARY INSTRUCTION FOR 500

Jason Sokoloff & Kathy ClarkeJames Madison University

VLACRL Annual Conference // October 29, 2009

JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY //

Basics

• Residential, comprehensive

– 68 undergraduate programs– 30 Masters’– 8 Educational Specialist / Doctoral

• Enrollment = 17,964 (Fall 2008)

– 16,619 undergraduates– Goal: 19,296 by 2013– Retention = 91% (FY-SO)– Graduation rate = 79% (5 years)

Photo: JMU Photography Services

Broadcasting Business Information // VLACRL Annual Conference // October 29, 2009

JMU (2009). Factsheet. Retrieved October 14, 2009, from http://www.jmu.edu/jmuweb/aboutJMU/wm_library/Factsheet_6-2009.pdf

JMU (2008-2009). Statistical Summary. Retrieved October 21, 2009 from http://www.jmu.edu/instresrch/statsum/2008-09


Librarians & Libraries

• Faculty status• Liaison program• Information literacy in general education• Targeted courses in major

CARRIER LIBRARY

EAST CAMPUS LIBRARY


College of Business

• Majors: Accounting, CIS, Economics, Finance, Hospitality, Management, Marketing

• 2.8 GPA required for admission

• Enrollment = 4,049– Marketing 824 – Management 705 – Finance 735– Accounting 593

James Madison University Office of Institutional Research (2008). Statistical Summary, Table 3-9.Retrieved October 14, 2009, from http://www.jmu.edu/instresrch/statsum/2008_09/T3_9.pdf


JMU // COLLEGE OF BUSINESS //

COB 300: Integrated Functional Systems

“COB 300 is designed to deliver key business disciplines in an

integrative format that illustrates a “real life” experiential learning

environment for students working in a team structure.”

• Gateway for all business majors• Multiple sections, large classes = up to 500 students• Objective driven: “Students should be able to:

» “Extrapolate information from financial statements to make critical decisions regarding marketing, management, finance and operations strategy…”

» Develop a business plan that incorporates all the business disciplines and sells the business to potential investors.”

JMU College of Business. (2009). Integrated Functional Systems COB 300, Learning Objectives.Retrieved October 21, 2009, from http://cob2.jmu.edu/cob300/objectives.html


JMU // COLLEGE OF BUSINESS //

COB 300: Integrated Functional Systems

» Faculty team teaching


Photo: Guardian.co.uk (2009, July 14)

JMU // COLLEGE OF BUSINESS // COB 300 //

Business Plan Part One

“In Benchmark One, your team will present their

business idea. At this point, you … have identified a

number of business opportunities, researched those possibilities, and selected the idea that

best satisfies the needs of a specific group of potential customers … identified the

industry code and allowed you evaluate the growth potential of the overall

industry … there is ample information and numerous quality sources from which to glean facts … have a basic idea of the feasibility

of the product or service … knowledge of

competitors in the field.”


• Online dating service for university students

• Geriatric nudist resort• Clothing design for

“little people”• Upscale port-a-potties• Dorm room interior

design• Funeral homes• Taxis for kids


Business Plan Part Two

“With the second benchmark, you are adding detail to your original framework and making

revisions based on your market research. The

bibliography documents your research. The

benchmark consists of worksheet-like requirements

related to marketing, operations, management and finance. You will identify

your target market and customers, create an operations plan, record types and numbers

of employees, research employee compensation,

and develop five years offinancial statements.”


• Where do men who make over $100k live?

• What time of day do18-year-olds in Duluth drink coffee?

• What will the interest rate be in 2013?

• How do I project online sales of purses?

• How much does a CEO make?


Research Reality

• Rotating instructional faculty don’t teach “research”• Novice researchers• High achievers• Large classes• Group work• Resource-rich, but overwhelming



JMU // LIBRARIES //

Library Resources

• Real-world resources


» Library subject guides

JMU // LIBRARY RESOURCES //

Library Subject Guides



Library Subject Guides

Purpose• Represent liaison’s personal guidance through library resources,

research techniques• Supplement catalog and other finding tools• Serve as instructional aids in classrooms• Serve students working independently• Serve library desk staff




Business Subject Guides

Functionality• Match sources to assignment requirements• Insert tips and hyperlinks to hard-to-find Web sites• Embed learning objects and help files• Customize resource descriptions for assignment task• Update, create pages on demand




Business Subject Guides

Benefits• Students know where to get help• Students help themselves• Faculty resource

• Single, consistent source for reference, instruction,

consultation & broadcast communication(email, Blackboard)



JMU // LIBRARIES //

Library Instruction

• Faculty cooperation, collaboration & feedback• Timing & nature of sessions


Here are the library resources

Be smart researchers

The librarian is in

JMU // LIBRARIES //

ConsultationsGiving students what they want• How to use resources• Customized demonstration

Giving students what they need• Instill creative & critical thinking:

– “Think about related productsand industries.”

– “Ask ‘who cares?’”

• Guidance from a non-grading professor:– “You should research as a group.”– “You should consider something less cockamamie.”



Photo: Guardian.co.uk (2009, July 14)

JMU // LIBRARIES //

Communication

What works for students Reference desk shifts Chat / instant message Email Office hours Consultations by appointment Blackboard announcements

What doesn’t Open help sessions Blogging Facebook

JMU // LIBRARIES //

Opportunities

• Optimize librarian time• Evolve anecdotal observations into

quantifiable data» Compile consultation statistics,

database usage statistics» Summer research proposal:

employer interviews» Bibliographies as information

literacy benchmarks

» Your ideas?


Photo: JMU Libraries

Documents

Broadcasting Business Information // LIBRARY INSTRUCTION FOR 500 Jason Sokoloff & Kathy Clarke James Madison University VLACRL Annual Conference // October